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Feb 13, 2024 | 
gamerant.com | Minaal Shamimi
Throughout House of the Dragon, House Velaryon can be seen desperately trying to rise to power. This is presumably because Rhaenys Targaryen was overlooked for the Iron Throne. However, in Fire & Blood, it is actually her son, Laenor Velaryon, who is passed over as an heir. His father, Corlys Velaryon, bribes several people on the Great Council to ensure his succession. Although Laenor does not succeed, the lore establishes the significance of his character.
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Feb 11, 2024 | 
gamerant.com | Minaal Shamimi
The Lannisters were kings in their right before they were forced to kneel to Aegon the Conqueror. Although they were allowed to keep their fortune, they were reduced to mere lords, and had little influence at the royal court during the first century of Targaryen rule. This did not change until Jason and Tyland Lannister played major roles in the Dance of the Dragons.
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Feb 5, 2024 | 
gamerant.com | Minaal Shamimi
Although the shifting allegiances in House of the Dragon are not altogether surprising, the character arc of Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) is rather unexpected. He is introduced as a literal knight in shining armor, who was born to a steward of Lord Dondarrion at Blackhaven. He climbs the ranks due to his fighting prowess, and goes on to have considerable influence during the Dance of the Dragons.
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Feb 4, 2024 | 
gamerant.com | Minaal Shamimi
Considering the audacity and violence in Game of Thrones, it can be safely assumed that the justice system of Westeros is not without its flaws. Although crimes are rampant, the ongoing war allows many of them to go unpunished. Quick and severe punishments — which are often executions — are preferred over incarceration. A trial is nothing more than a showy and religious ritual, as the outcome is supposedly determined by what “the gods have spoken”.
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Feb 2, 2024 | 
gamerant.com | Minaal Shamimi
Mysaria, known as the White Worm, is an elusive and cunning character who wields a powerful spy network in King's Landing. Her appearance in the show is drastically different from the books, and her moniker is likely a code name to protect her identity. Mysaria's loyalty and allegiances are complex, as she both assists and potentially betrays Daemon Targaryen, and her ultimate fate remains uncertain.
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Jan 30, 2024 | 
gamerant.com | Minaal Shamimi
The unresolved succession of King Robert I Baratheon led to the War of the Five Kings in Game of Thrones after his death. One of the earliest battles of the conflict was the Battle of the Green Fork between the Starks and the Lannisters. It took place between the Kingsroad and the eastern bank of the Green Fork of the river Trident. However, HBO’s Game of Thrones cut out several scenes from the series due to the sheer length of the plot, including the Battle of the Green Fork.
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Jan 24, 2024 | 
gamerant.com | Matthew Vaughn |Minaal Shamimi
"Argylle" is an upcoming spy film directed by Matthew Vaughn that aims to reinvent the spy genre with its homage to 80s action movies. The film is based on a book series by an author named Elly Conway, with the movie actually being an adaptation of the fourth book in the series. The plot follows the titular character, Argylle, as he becomes a spy and embarks on a mission to recover a stolen treasure, while facing the threat of World War III.
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Jan 22, 2024 | 
gamerant.com | Michael Green |Minaal Shamimi
A Haunting in Venice (2023) marks Kenneth Branagh’s third Agatha Christie adaptation, in which he reprises his role as the famed Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. Unlike and Death on the Nilethough, the film takes far more creative liberties. Loosely based on one of Christie’s less-lauded novels, Hallowe'en Party, A Haunting in Venice is an old-school whodunit with a supernatural undercurrent.
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Jan 18, 2024 | 
gamerant.com | Minaal Shamimi
Just as the specter of her father’s madness loomed over Daenerys I Targaryen in Game of Thrones, there are several references to Maegor I Targaryen (infamously known as Maegor the Cruel) in relation to the “impulsive” and “unforgiving” character of Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon. It is believed that Maegor’s supposed bastards will also appear in the show’s second season. This raises the question: why was the third Targaryen king remembered as the proverbial tyrant in Game of Thrones?
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Jan 16, 2024 | 
gamerant.com | Minaal Shamimi
Most of what is known about the Knight of the Laughing Tree comes from an old tale that Meera Reed shared with Bran Stark. In 281 AC, before the main events of Game of Thrones took place, a mysterious knight fought at Lord Whent's great tournament. He was “short of stature”, “clad in ill-fitting armor made up of bits and pieces”, and held a shield emblazoned with an image of “a white weirwood with a laughing red face”.
